Treat the Athlete, Not the Diagnosis | Ellen Minzner

Adaptive sport asks a simple question: what does the sport require, and how do you build the athlete to meet it. Todd Vogt and Eric Von Frohlich sit down with Ellen Minzner, elite rowing coach and leader in adaptive and Paralympic sport, to discuss coaching athletes with disabilities through standards, structure, and respect. From Parkinson’s to para rowing to the Paralympic Games, the conversation centers on competition, training, and an athlete-first approach.Ellen shares why being treated like an athlete matters, how competition supports development, and why Parkinson’s presents unique challenges in training because it is progressive and unstable. Coaching decisions, sport demands, and measurable progress remain central throughout.What You’ll Learn:Why adaptive athletes don’t want to be “coddled.” They want standards, structure, and the chance to improve.How competition functions as a training tool, not just a finish line.What makes Parkinson’s different from other disabilities in sport and why coaching has to adapt.How elite coaches separate sport demands from limitations.Why the Paralympics normalize disability in a way everyday life often doesn’t.Key Takeaways:➡️ Treat the person like an athlete, not a diagnosis. Expectations matter, and so does respect.➡️ Competition drives integration. Skills, nerves, fitness, and mindset have to show up together.➡️ Adaptive sport requires precision. Progressive conditions like Parkinson’s require constant adjustment.➡️ Improvement fuels motivation. Athletes need evidence they are getting better, not just “participating.”Key Moments:00:00 – Introduction to Ellen Minzner and her background in rowing and adaptive sport03:10 – Why the Paralympic Games are so powerful and surprisingly accessible as a fan experience06:45 – “The world is built for them.” Disability normalized at the Paralympics10:20 – What adaptive athletes actually want from coaches14:05 – Competition as a tool for growth, not just medals18:40 – The spectrum of disability in adaptive sport including congenital, acquired, and progressive23:15 – Parkinson’s as a non-stable condition and what that means for training27:30 – Defining sport demands versus limitations. What must be trained, adapted, or accepted31:10 – “They just want to be treated like an athlete”34:50 – Why hard work and visible improvement matter more than inspiration38:20 – The danger of lowering standards in adaptive sport42:00 – Closing thoughts on respect, effort, and doing meaningful workAbout the guest:Ellen Minzner is the Para High Performance Director at USRowing, where she leads the U.S. Para national team program. She was named the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s 2023 Paralympic Coach of the Year, and under her leadership, Team USA earned two silver medals at the 2023 World Rowing Championships and qualified boats for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.A former elite athlete, Ellen is a two-time World Champion in the lightweight women’s pair (1995, 1996) and a Pan American Games gold medalist. She has also held leadership roles focused on inclusion and access in rowing, including work at Community Rowing, Inc.Connect with Ellen:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenminzner/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenminzner/About the hosts:Todd Vogt and Eric Von Frohlich are athletes living with Parkinson’s who share what they’re learning in real time: what’s working, what’s frustrating, and how to keep moving forward with an athlete’s mindset.Follow / connect:📩 Join our Community: https://evfmethod.com/subscribe-to-podcast-community🎧 Listen and Subscribe: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🎬 Watch on YouTube: @parkinsonsathletepodcast📸 Instagram: @parkinsonsathletepodcast🤝 LinkedIn: Parkinson's An Athlete's Journey🌐 Website: www.evfmethod.comThis podcast contains personal experience and education only, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical decisions.